Apparatus for selectively wipe forming and stretch forming metal stock



July 11, 1950.

Filed May 1', 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

July 11, 1950 c. J. BATH APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY WIPE FORMING AND STRETCH FORMING METAL STOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1, 1950 INVENTOR. W 41 14, BY

AfmfiA/wi July 11, 1950 c. J. BATH 2, APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY WIPE FORMING 7 AND STRETCH FORMING METAL STOCK Filed May 1, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 2 M M y Patented July 11, 1950 APPARATUS FOR: SELECTWELY -FORMING AND. STRETCH: FORMING- MEr-Ans'rooK;

cyan Bath, Chagrin Falls, Ohio Application May-1,1950, Serial Nor- 1595347 7' Claims. (01. 1534-40) This mvention: relates toy-"metal working machinesgfor formingstock. pieces. such asirod's, bars, 7

tubes, s-trips,. sheets,m and; the like r into. regularly. or irregularly. curved. Qneontoured forms and is atcontinuation?in-rpartoi 'my copending applioae tion serial No. 522,700.. filed February 17,1944.

As morefully set-vforthlinnmy tic-pending application; contour 'formihgmachinesof the wipe fermjngr type. have, heretofore. been. Provided. Such machine's ompris'e e sentialllr. a base on whieh is .7 mounted." a. power driven rotary. table .whichcarriesl asidejface. die- A piston and'cylinder. assemblage is, mountedi'on' tnebase and. arriesametalforming tool which i a a ted to.

be forced: towardthe side face offthe die by, the, Piston, upon admission of pressure fluid to the cylinder and to beheld under yieldingpressure against a piece of metal whicl iis thereby-"towed against the side face of the.die. One endof th'e metal is secured for rotation with the die and the other; endis left ing tool against themetal inspaced relation from its" anchored end the meters pressed firmly against and, wiped unwrapped about the side I face'ofjthe dieandf mad'e to conform approx'- imately" to the contour ofithe siders e;

I'nfmyeo-pendihg' applicati' thereis described a contour forming macli'in'e= of the type nowknown as the stretch former. The stretch forming ,machine comprises essentially rease on? which is mounteda rotatahle ower-eaves talile which, in turn, carries a side fade die"antl""suit able means for 'clamping 'one end of the length of meter fined" position relative" to thedie for rotation therewith. fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder assemblage is mounted on the"- base fbrswin'ging movement 1 about an upright axis iparallelfto the table axis and: offset therefrom; The piston rodisprovided with suitable clampin i' fiaws 'for engagingethe opposite endsoithe: length of metal. Fluid pressurze is -applied, to tithe cylindertint, f-rontw'of the. piston so: asto' yieldably urge it away from the table-sofas tostness; the strip r metal-x near, tov its. elastic. limit. While.- this; stressedconditio i is maintainedthe table isniotateol soas tosl'ayi or, wrap. the. stressed length or metal onto the side; face! of the die.

Thus-the metal.is madeatmcbnfbrrm toith'e side fate.v of thee dieland; when. released; retains. es?

p free; so, that by concurrently rotatingfthe. tablet and yieldahlyfoifeing the work- V 2 sentially theiconto'ur of'the face ofthe die against? which it was laid under tension. 4

As, set. forthand described in my co-pen'i'litigg application, there are numerous applications of apparatus ofhoth types, some metals and mines.

lending themselves to production more efiiciently; and economically by stretch forming andother'sf by wipe forming.v Either machine is rather; ex pensive'for small: producers who have insufficient" production. requirements tokeep either typeJo'f; machine in operation. for extended Ep'eriods.

Thepresent divisional application relates to) the universal machine disclosedin'my, said co-j pending.v application and whichlmachine' canhei used both for stretch forming 'and'for wipe form ing, selectively; v a I ,The objects and advantages of the present invention will-become apparent from the following description wherein reference is made to the" drawin s, in which:

Fig. 1 is a .topfplan view'of the apparatus snows; in condition for operation of stretch forming;

Fig. 2 is.;' a side Fig; 1, Y r ppi g tool being'fomitted and part ing showninsection for clear'ness in illustratio fion re bas o v and cylinder 'mounted thereon; partsthereof he ing' shown in sectionfor' cl'earness in illustra' tion;

Figlii is aiiagmentarypross' sectional view takenonthe' line {+4} ofFig'. v

Fig. 5"is.a'top plan view of the apparatu's illus trated in 1 Fig; 1 showing itin" condition for use in wip f rm ng;

Fig. 6"

Fig; i but sho'winglthe locking means lockingthe piston and cylinder assemblage ag-ainstlater'al" swinging movement; and;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration"of"the-fliiid" pressure system" for operating the apparatus" if-- lustrated in Figs. 1. through 6'.

The present universal machine emen-see es' -i sentially atrigid hollow base"! on one en'd'o'f which is rotat'aloly rn'ounted a suitable die sup porting. tablet; {is illustrated in Figs. 1 arid2;

the table 2 isfixedly mounted on a rotatable post an}: upright hollow bearing-"portion 4, which may 61mm"? the pa tu the Strip being formed; andtl e h re f b Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevationoi a per} the apparatus with thepistom a fragmentary sectional view similar to 3 be formed integrally with the base. Mounted in fixed position on the under side of the table in co-axial relation with the post 3 is an annular gear 5. Within the base I is a suitable speed reduction mechanism 6 having an upright shaft I which extends through the top of the base I and carries a gear 6 complementary to and permanently in mesh with the gear 5. The speed reduction mechanism may be of any conventional type and is driven through the medium of a pulley 9 and belt II] by a suitable electric motor II. The, table is provided with the usual looking or mountingchannels I2for receiving the heads of suitable bolts for securing a side face die in the desired fixed position on the table. Mounted on the base I in spaced relation to the table 2 and with its axis substantially horizontal or'parallel to the plane of the top of the table is a piston and cylinder assemblage, indicated generally at I3. As mentioned, the present machine is to be used for both stretch forming and wipe forming. In the former case, it is desirable that the piston and cylinder assemblage be spaced a considerable distance from the table, whereas in the wipe forming it is desirable that the piston andcylinder assemblage be near to the tablev 2.

Accordingly, the piston and cylinder assemblage I3 is mounted on the base I for rapid adjustment toward and away from the table 2. In the illustrative example of a suitable mounting. of the piston and cylinder assemblage, the base I is pro vided with suitable aligned stationary bearings I 4 which are preferably on the under side of the top and of which the axis intersects the pro jected axis of the table. ,Rotatably mounted in the bearings I4 is afeed screw I5 on one end of which is carried a pulley I6 for rotation therewith. A reversible motor I1 is mountedin the hollow base I and is connected by a suitable belt I8 to the pulley IS. The top of the base I is provided with suitable slideways I9 which extend parallel to the screw I5. A follower 2!! is guided by the slide-ways I9 andis in threaded engagement with the screw I5 vso as to be moved thereby toward and away from the table depend- I ing upon the direction of rotation of the screw I5.- The follower 2B is provided at the top-an upright pivot 2I. The piston and cylinder assem lage comprises essentially a cylinder 22 which is fixedly mounted on a suitable carriage 23. A piston 24 is mounted in the cylinder 22 and is connected at its forward end to an upright tool holder 25. The tool holder is provided at its lower end with a slide 26 which operates in suit- I able guideways 21 in the carriage 23, so asto relieve the piston from lateralthrusts. Suitable conduits 28 and 29-are connected to the cylinder at opposite ends so as to supply fluid pressure to either end selectively while venting the opposite end to a suitable sump or to the atmosphere in case air is used forthe operating fluid. The

carriage 23 is connected to the pivot 2| for swinging movement parallel to the plane of the table 2 about the upright axis of the pivot 2|. The carriage 23 is provided at its forward ends with suitable rollers 30 so as to reduce the friction and permit as free swinging of the carriage 23, withthe piston and cylinder assemblage I3,'about the axis of the pivot 2|.

.When the apparatus is to be used for stretch forming, the screw I5 is operated to move the pivot 2| and with it the carriage 23, toward the left hand end of the base in Fig. 1 so as to allow as much space as possible between the assemblage I3 and the table 2. 'A suitable metal mate ia engaging clamp 3| is mounted in the tool carrier 25 and is adapted to engage one end of a piece of a strip of metal S for exerting tension thereon. A side faced die 32 is mounted in fixed position on the table 2 by means of suitable bolts 33. In order to secure the opposite end of the strip of metal in fixed relation to the die 32, a suitable clamp 34 is provided. In the form illustrated in Fig. 1, the clamp 34 is mounted directly on the die 32, although it may be mounted on the table 2 adjacent the die. Thus, upon rotation of the table with one end of thestrip S engaged by the clamp 34 and the opposite end engaged by the clamp 3| pressure fluid is admitted to the cylinder 22 in front of the piston 24 and exerts sufficylinder 22, the strip unclamped and removed.

It retains the contour imparted by the side face die with substantially no ,spring back.

On the other hand, when it is desired to use the machine for wipe forming operations, the motor I! is operated so as to move the carriage 23,

. with the piston and cylinder assemblage I3, as

:' freely about thepivot 2|.

close as practicable to the table 2, usually so that the piston 24 overhangs the table 2. However, for wipe forming operations, the piston and cylinder assemblage I3 cannot be allowed to swing Accordingly, the carriage 23, is provided, preferably at its forward end, with means for selectively latching it against swinging movement about the pivot 2I and releasin it for swinging movement about the pivot 2 I. Thismeans may comprise forwardly extending lugs 35, each of which. is provided with a vertical bore extending entirely therethrough. The top of the base I is provided with spaced apertures 36 so ositioned that when theassemblage I3 is moved to the operating position nearest the table 2 and the axis of the piston and cylinder assemblage I3 intersects the projected axis of the table 2, the bores of the lugs 35 are aligned with the recesses 35. 'I'hereupon pins 31 are passed through the bores in the lugs 35 and into enga ement with the recesses 36, thus constraining the piston and cylinder assemblage I3 from swinging about the axis of the pivot 2|. When thus arranged, and as best illustrated in Fig. 5. a suitab e metal working tool 38 is secured in the tool holder 25 and-a side iace die 39 and clamping means 4!! are secured to the table 2. One end of the strip S is secured in fixed position on the table 2 by the clamp .3. Pressure fluid is then admitted to the assemblage I3 in back of the piston so as to force the piston 24 and tool 38 toward the die 39 and'into engagement with the strip S and into engagement with the lateral face of thedie. While the tool- 38 is yieldably held in engagement with the strip, the

table is rotated, thus'wiping the strip firmly against the lateral face of the die so that it substantially conforms theretoafter the wipe form hamper .praaitliin race portion era-iii .die is tooj'acute,

Ztheilal l thrustpnthepistondrfsuidebecomes sum-est arm "the "forming to'ol ictionally locks m m ii al. "'If'"-rotation the table is'i ot prdmptlrwhenjthis locking "angle is hed, "the di'e"isli'kely"'to be' sheared "olffthe tab ofthe pistonand'cylinder assemblage; with thetgiiiilesftool holder" and tl ie like, are likelyto l .d ase' In order"*"to prevent damagefrom this'source, the pins 31 mayibe'shear pins-which shear off and release--the piston andxcylinder assemblage for swin'g'ingabout the pivot .21! when the -lateral thrust has approachedthe point at which damage to the assemblage or dies is apt to result.

Obviously, instead of the screw means shown for adjusting the pivot 2|, other means may be provided. Likewise, other means for anchoring the piston and cylinder assemblage I 3 so as to constrain it from swinging movement about the axis of the pivot 2| may be provided.

Referring to Fig. 7, themachine is shown as operated by hydraulic fluid. An electric motor 4| is provided and drives a suitable pump 42 which is connected to the cylinder 22 by means of the conduit 28 through the mechanism of the system illustrated in Fig. '7. The pump '42 delivers pressure fluid to an adjustable pressure regulating valve 43 of set output so that the delivery output pressure may be set at a predetermined value which is indicated by the pressure gauge 44. The valve 43 is connected to a distributing valve 45 of any well known type which is operated by means of a lever 46 suitably ac cessible on the exterior of the base I. The distributing valve 45 is adapted selectively to connect the pressurelines 28 and 29 to the source of pressure supplied by the pump 42. The exhaust outlet of the pressure regulating valve 43 is connected through a line 41 to a control valve 48 which, in turn, is connected to an exhaust line 49 leading to the sump or reservoir 50. Thus pressure fluid at constant pressure regardless 01 volume can be supplied to the cylinder 22 at either side of the piston 24 and the opposite side of the cylinder vented to the sump through the common exhaust line 49.

Bymeans of the system thus described, the

7 metal can be maintained under tension for stretch forming or compressive stresses, for wipe forming, selectively, the tension or compression being of constant value throughout the forming operation. This assures uniformity in results and, particularly in connection with stretch forming, eliminates the danger of overstressing of the metal with possible breaking and springing of the broken pieces.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

lfIn a contour forming machine, a base, a

rotatable table thereon adapted to support a side face die and a metal clamping tool for rotation with the table, means to rotate the table, a metal forming piston and cylinder assemblage adapted for connection to a metal engaging tool and mounted on the base for swinging movement about an axis generally parallel to the table axis and with its longitudinal axis in a plane generallynormal to the table axis, means to supply pressure fluid to the cylinder to urge the assemblage yieldably toward extended and retracted positions, selectively, and latch means operable selectively to lock the assemblage against said swinging movement and to release the assemblage for said swinging movement,

whereby "saidjassemblage fmayswin'g" "about sale axis 'whenthe' rate-n means is released.

2....Ihe structure according to claim 1character'izedin that said latch means include shearable means adapt-ed tobesheared off and thereby release the'latch means upon application to the "assemblage or a predetermined -'exc'essi've force in a direction to urgethe assemblage to swing about 'its axis.

3. A countour forming machine according to claimil characterized in that said latchz'means comprises means in'flxed lateral "position relative tethe -cylinder or said assemblage-means .in flxed lateral position on'the base, and movable detent means complementary to and engageable with both last mentioned means for connecting them to, and disconnecting them from, each other, selectively.

4. The structure according to claim 3 characterized in that the detent means includes a. shear pin.

5. In a contour forming machine, a base, a rotatable table thereon adapted to support a side face die, a metal forming piston and cylinder assemblage mounted on the base with its axis in a plane generally normal to the table axis and extending generally toward and away from the table for transverse swinging movement about a pivotal axis which is generally parallel to and offset from the table axis, a guide mounted in fixed position relative to the assemblage and swingable therewith about the pivotal axis of the assemblage and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the assemblage, a tool holder reciprocable in the guide and connected to the piston, means to rotate the table, and means to supply pressure fluid to the cylinder so as to yieldably urge the piston in a direction generally toward and away from the-table, selectively, and latch means operable, selectively, to lock the assemblage and guide against swinging movement about said pivotal axis and to release the assemblage and guide for swinging movement about said pivotal axis.

6. In a contour forming machine, a base, a. rotatable table thereon adapted to support a side face die and metal clamping tool for rotation with the table, means to rotate the able, a pivot member, means supporting the pivot member on the base, with its axis parallel to the table axis, for movement toward and away from the table, a piston and cylinder assemblage carried by the base for movement toward and away from the table, with its longitudinal axis extending in a I plane generally normal to the table axis, and connected to the pivot member for swinging movement about the axis of the pivot member, means operable, selectively, to move the pivot member and assemblage relatively toward the table to one position and away from the table to another position and to hold the pivot memher in said positions, latch means operable, when the pivot member is in said one position, to lock the assemblage against swingin movement about the pivot member and to release the assemblage for swinging movement about the pivot member, selectively, and means to supply pressure fluid to the cylinder to urge the assemblage toward extended and retracted positions, selectively.

7. A contour forming machine according to claim 6 characterized in that the said means operable to move the pivot member comprises a screw rotatably mounted on the base with its axis extending generally toward and away from the table, a, follower connected to the pivot member and in driving engagement with the screw, and means for rotating the screw in opposite directions, selectively.

CYRIL J. BATH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number 8, Namef"'... Date ,Kelso Jan..10, 1939 Broomham Feb. 20,1940 Henricson Oct. 8, 1940 Enberg et a1 Mar. 10, 1942 Amiot 1 Aug. 11, 1942 Maize -4. .1 Aug. 24, 1943 Sei'fried Aug. 29, 1944 Flowers Apr. 11, 1944 Nielson Nov. 26, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS I Country Date 

